How to Study for the Police Officer Certification Exam

How to Study for the Police Officer Certification ExamHow to Study for the Police Officer Certification ExamThe path to becoming a versicherungspolice officer is riddled with hurdles, from the extensive background investigations to the challenges of the police academy. Itdoesnt stop on graduation day, though. In order to make the leap from the classroom to the patrol car, youre going to have to take - and pass - a police officercertification exam. If you want to make it to field training, you need to know howto study for the state exam. Read the Book Before you go scouring the internet for state police exam study guides, remember this there is no substitution for actually reading and comprehending the curriculum. True, the police exam is long and theres a lot of material to cover, but the questions on the test arent going to come from your training officers lectures. Test questions are going to come straight from the books.The most important thing you can do to be ready fortest d ay is to become familiar with the curriculum by reading ahead of your daily lessons. Take Notes While youre reading, take good leides. Your training curriculum will most likelycontainalistoftrainingobjectivesat thebeginningof eachchapteror module. Think of those objectivesasdeclarationsby the State Police Officers Standards and Training (POST) orequivalent,tellingyou exactly they want you to learn. As youre reading the chapter, write down therelevantportions of text thatcorrespondwith those objectives. This will help break the material down into moredigestiblechunks, which will make iteasierto review key information. Review Your Notes As you get closer to test day, review your notes. Doing so will jog your memory and bring old information to the forefront, helping it to stay fresh in your mind. It will also help you recall aspects of training you may not have fully grasped, and remind you to give certain areas or chapters a second look. Take Practice Exams Regardless of your state, the chances are high that there are plenty of places where you can find practice test questions, either online or in bookstores. Your academy may even offer them as part of the exam review. Be careful here. Far too many police recruits rely on practice exams as the primary means of prepping for any exam, much less one so important as a state certification test. Realize that practice exams are but one tool in your toolbox and, while valuable, can also be dangerous. These are not actual state exam questions, only made-up questions designed to test your ability to recall the objectives. The best use of practice exams is tonarrowyour focus byidentifying where youre knowledge is weakest. Studying is far moreefficientwhen you know what it is you dont know. Read and Review Again With the help of practice tests, you can identify which chapters or sections you dontrecallas well asothers. When youveidentifiedthose areas, go back and reread those chapters, and take notes again while you do. Then, review those notes. RestBefore the Test Its easier said than done, but if you dont do anything else the night before the test, be sure to get plenty of sleep. This may be the most important test of your life, and youll needyour faculties firing on all cylinders to be successful. That wont happen if youre sleep deprived.Relax, wind downand rest your brain. Youre going to have a big day ahead of you. Good Luck on Your Law EnforcementCertificationExam Remember, there is no substitute for reading your training material. No one can force the knowledge you need into your head.If you follow these tips, though, youll put yourself onbetter footing for the exam and be as ready as ever for the big day.

Find Out How to Answer Tough Interview Questions

Find Out How to Answer Tough Interview QuestionsFind Out How to Answer Tough Interview QuestionsIf theres any moment in the job search process when candidates trip up the most, its the vorstellungsgesprch phase. The average accounting and finance professional is much better at researching and solving problems than knowing how to answer tough interview questions.Thats why if you have a job interview lined up, you need to prepare answers to potential questions before you even enter the hiring managers office. Warning Some of these will be trickier than others.Breaking down the interview questionTo know how to answer tough questions, it helps to understand why theyre asked in the first place. Basically, interviewers need to determine quickly whether you have the following three qualitiesTechnical expertise to do the jobInterpersonal skills to get along with coworkersA desire to join the companyTo ensure you have the right temperament for the work environment, managers must go beyond the first quality. To find out how you may fit (the second two qualities), they will ask general questions, behavioral questions, as well as the occasional curveball. This is true whether youre going for a full-time position or a temporary job, because employers might have a temp-to-hire strategy in the back of their mind.Top 5 tough interview questionsAs notenzeichend earlier, interviews are no walks in the park. To succeed, you should research the company and rehearse your answers to many potential questions. Here are five favorite queries interviewers have today1. What can you tell me about yourself?This is a common way for hiring managers to tritt off interviews. When answering, keep the above bullet points in mind. Give an overview of your accounting skills, work experience, qualifications and personal traits. Your goal is to pique their interest in what you can do for the company. Consider this question the first step in making a positive impression. Note This is not the time nor place to mention your children, marital status, political activities, religious affiliation, health issues, hobbies, pets or favorite Netflix show.2. Why did you leave your last job or Why do you wish to leave your current company? No gossip, please. The accounting world is surprisingly interconnected, and the last thing you want to do is badmouth mutual acquaintances.If youre currently working, highlight what you enjoy about the job. Then segue into your desire for professional advancement or another challenge. Are you between jobs because of a mass layoff or recent move, or did a temporary assignment end? Mention that without going into the weeds.Be more cautious if you were let go for performance reasons. Your goal here is to explain the circumstances. Perhaps, you didnt meet expectations because your job description changed or because you didnt get along with a new supervisor. Reassure interviewers of the lessons learned, and highlight how it was an isolated incident because yo u have an otherwise stellar work history.Finish on a high note by mentioning your dedication to the accounting profession and enthusiasm for the next challenge.3. What are your strengths and weaknesses?The key to nailing this tough interview question is preparation. Dont be caught off-guard if an interviewer lobs you this grenade. Listing positives is easy - youre great with numbers, excel in several financial platforms, have a stellar work ethic and so on.But naming your Achilles heel or personal kryptonite? Thats another matter. Mention a real but not deal-breaking weakness. Perhaps youre slightly introverted, find it difficult to take criticism or would rather do things yourself than delegate. Then immediately follow up with how youre addressing the shortcoming. For example, if you have subpar networking skills, tell interviewers you plan to talk to more people during the next conference you attend.4. What salary are you looking for? This is a really tough interview question. Ai m too high, and you could put yourself out of the running. Shoot too low, and you might be leaving money on the table.You could take one of two approaches. Research current starting salaries for the position youre seeking, customizing it for your city. The Robert Half 2017 Salary Guide for Accounting Finance is an excellent resource. Then either give hiring managers a salary range you can live with, or say youd like to find out more about the job responsibilities and non-wage benefits before naming a number. The point is, you never know when a salary negotiation might begin, so always be prepared with current averages in your mind.5. Where do you want to be in five years?Your answer to this question gives hiring managers an idea of your motivation and drive. Saying you love the status quo is not a good response. Instead, lay out professional goals you hope to achieve and how you plan to get there. However, mention your adaptability and openness to whatever comes your way. For best results, keep your ambitions in-house, as few employers set out to hire job hoppers.The goal of any job interview is to demonstrate your talents, initiative and suitability for the role. Since you dont know exactly what hiring managers are looking for, its not always your fault if you dont come away with a job offer. But do your prep work, and youll greatly increase the chances of landing the accounting job you want.WE CAN HELP

Passing an Employment Drug Test

Passing an Employment Drug TestPassing an Employment Drug TestAre you concerned about passing an employment drug test? When and how are job applicants and employees tested? Employers might conduct drug and alcohol tests as a condition of employment, randomly, or because of an accident or injury. They might also perform tests because an employee appears to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol on the job, if unexcused absence from work or lateness is an issue, or if performance appears to be impacted by drug or alcohol abuse. So, what can you do if you are concerned about passing a drug test? First, you need to understand your rights as laid out by state and federal law and what you can expect if youre screened for drug use. Employer Drug Tests During an Employment Screenings Most state laws allow private employers to screen job applicants for drug use, provided that they give elendice that drug testing is part of the hiring process, use state-certified labs and screen all ap plicants for the same job. However, state laws may restrict the way testing is carried out. For example, some states may allow screening only once the applicant has been given notice about the drug-testing policy and the employer has extended a conditional offer of employment. See your states laws to determine whats allowed in your area. Some employers may even be required to screen prospective employees for drug use before extending an offer of employment. Federal agencies like the Department of Transportation and the Department of Defense are required to conduct regular drug testing. And, the federal Omnibus Transportation Employee Testing Act (OTETA) mandates that all operators of aircraft, mass transportation vehicles, and commercial motor vehicles be tested for drug use. Further, private-sector employees may also be tested for drugs or alcohol in the workplace, where permitted by state law. Types of Drug Tests The types of drug and alcohol tests which show the presence of d rugs or alcohol include urine drug tests, blood drug tests, hair drug tests, breath alcohol tests, saliva drug screen and sweat drug screen. Passing a Drug Test The only way to be koranvers that youre going to pass a drug test is not to have drugs or alcohol in your system. With some drugs, including marijuana, a residue may show in drug tests for weeks. If you dont believe the positive drug test results are accurate, you may be able to have the specimen retested at a lab of your choice at your expense. Check with the company for information on how to request a retest. Heres information on how long drugs and alcohol show up on a drug test Alcohol 12-48 hoursAmphetamines 2-3 daysBarbiturates 1-3 weeksBenzodiazepines 1-4 daysCrack (Cocaine) 2-3 daysHeroin (Opiates) 1-3 daysMarijuana casual use, up to a week chronic use, several weeksMethamphetamine 2-3 daysMethadone 1-3 daysPhencyclidine (PCP) 1-2 weeks Note that hair drug testing may show results that go back farther th an what would show up in blood or urine testing. When Marijuana Is Legal in Your State As of 2017, 1 in 5 Americans lives in states where its legal to smoke marijuana recreationally. Eight states and the District of Columbia allow both recreational and medical use of marijuana a further 21 states allow the use of marijuana for medical purposes only. State laws restrict the amount users are legally allowed to possess. However, federal law still prohibits marijuana possession, sale or use. Further, the Justice Department has pushed for an end to rules that restrict the federal government from bypassing state law. Regardless of how the state vs. federal fight shakes out, employers can still screen job applicants and employees for marijuana use even in states where medical or recreational marijuana is legal. That means its possible to lose your job (or an offer of employment) for testing positive for a substance thats legal in your state. How can you be fired for using a legal drug ? It all comes down to employment at will. People think that they have all of these job protections, but they really dont, said Adam Winkler, a professor of constitutional law at UCLA, in an interview with The Mercury News. Employment in the United States is at will. That means employers can hire whoever they want, under any conditions they want, with a few exceptions. Those exceptions? Protected classes like gender, race, ethnicity, age, religion or disability. Marijuana is not one of those protected classes, said Winkler. Your best bet as an applicant or employee is to learn about marijuana and employment drug testing, company policy, as well as state law, in order to protect yourself and your career. The information contained in this article is not legal advice and is not a substitute for such advice. State and federal laws change frequently, and the information in this article may not reflect your own states laws or the most recent changes to the law.